Firing mechanism with a pivoted finger piece mounted on a pivoted trigger link

ABSTRACT

A TRIGGERING DEVICE FOR FIRING FLARES, ILLUMINATING AND SIGNALLING AMMUNITION, OR THE LIKE INCLUDES A HOUSING WHICH HOLDS A PROPELLING CHARGE, A FIRING PIN MOUNTED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT TO A POSITION AT WHICH IT MAY STRIKE AND IGNITE THE PROPELLING CHARGE, SPRING MEANS BIASING THE FIRING PIN TOWARD THE PROPELLING CHARGE, A TRIGGER LINK HAVING A FIRING PIN ENGAGING FINGER THEREON. THE TRIGGER LINK HOLDS THE FIRING PIN IN A CENTER POSITION AGAINST THE FORCE OF THE SPRING MEANS AND PREVENTS ITS MOVEMENT TOWARD THE PROPELLING CHARGE. THE LINK IS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ON A PATH IN WHICH THE FIRING PIN ENGAGING FINER PUSHES THE FIRING PIN BACK AGAINST THE FORCE OF THE SPRING MEANS, AND TO A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE FIRING PIN ENGAGING FINGER IS MOVED OUT OF THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE FIRING PIN WHEREBY THE SPRING MEANS MAY DRIVE THE FIRING PIN AGAINST THE PROPELLING CHARGE.

NOV. 16, 1971 p BEERMANN ETAL 3,619,930

mums MECHANISM WITH A PIVOTED FINGER PRICE MOUNTED ON A PIVO'IED TRIGGER LINK Filed July 8, 1969 FIG] I H INVENTORS;

Po-ML 32a m omn VOLLLL Grease 35mm ATTORNEYS United States Patent O US. Cl. 4269 R 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A triggering device for firing flares, illuminating and signalling ammunition, or the like includes a housing which holds a propelling charge, a firing pin mounted for axial movement to a position at which it may strike and ignite the propelling charge, spring means biasing the firing pin toward the propelling charge, a trigger link having a firing pin engaging finger thereon. The trigger link holds the firing pin in a center position against the force of the spring means and prevents its movement toward the propelling charge. The link is mounted for movement on a path in which the firing pin engaging finger pushes the firing pin back against the force of the spring means, and to a second position in which the firing pin engaging finger is moved out of the path of movement of the firing pin whereby the spring means may drive the firing pin against the propelling charge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a triggering device for firing flares, illuminating and signalling ammunition or the like, and, more particularly, to such a device in which a firing pin is mounted for movement in a trigger assembly housing under the force of the spring to strike and ignite a propelling charge when a triggering device is moved.

Generally, such devices are relatively complicated and expensive since they are constructed with a trigger mechanism generally similar to those used with rifles or pistols.

One known mechanism includes an axially movable firing pin mounted in front of a prestressed spring which drives it into striking position. The triggering mechanism has a profiled part which corresponds with a profiled opening in a safety disc disposed in a cylindrical housing, which is transversely displaceable to release the firing pin. However, this mechanism requires that all bearings be produced by expensive machining processes. Moreover, the shape and location of the firing device does not insure accurate aim and alignment.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision ofa firing mechanism which provides greater economy in manufacture, and which is safe and reliable in operation.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of such an apparatus in which parts may be folded from an operative position to occupy a relatively small amount of space.

Briefly stated these and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a housing which holds a propelling charge, a firing pin mounted for axial movement and a trigger link holding the firing pin in a center position. A spring is arranged to drive the firing pin toward the propelling charge, and is lightly stressed when the pin is in its center position. The trigger link is arranged to move the firing pin away from the propelling charge, and further stress the spring until finally a firing pin en- 3,619,930 Patented Nov. 16, I971 gaging finger on the trigger link is moved out of the path of the firing pin and releases it. The trigger link has a handle, which may be pivoted into a forward position against the housing, and a pistol grip is provided which may also be folded against the housing, together with locking means for releasably holding the pistol grip in either its folded or its operative position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view partly in section, of a device according to the present invention with the pistol grip handle being shown in the folded position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2, and including a flare attached thereto.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the pistol grip taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, an axially extending bore 1 of cylindrical shape is formed in a housing 2, and a cup-shaped firing pin 3 is mounted for axial movement in bore 1. A coil spring 4 is arranged as a compression spring and is mounted so that one end engages the interior of the bottom of the cup, and the other end engages one end of bore 1. A pin tip 6 is formed on the bottom of the cup of the firing pin and extends along the firing pin axis. A propelling charge which includes a percussion cap 7, a driving explosive 8, and a support 9 is threaded into a bore 10 on the interior of a socket 111. A flare shell 12 is threaded on the exterior of socket 11. Bore 10 and socket 11 are coaxial with the firing pin 3 and bore 10 is a continuation of bore 1. A gasket 13 is fixed between the front face of housing 2 and the base of flare shell r12.

A recess 14 is formed in the bottom of the housing. It includes a relatively wider portion 14a and narrower portions 14b and which extend upwardly from portion 14a and are separated by a housing wall portion 30. Portion 14b extends up into the bore 1. Portion 14c extends to near the top of the housing along one side of the bore i1. Wall 30 also separates bore 1 from recess 14c.

A trigger link 15 includes a wide portion 15a which is of appropriate Width to fit loosely within recess 14a, and a downwardly extending projection 15b which is aligned with recess portion 14b and extends in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the firing pin 3. An upwardly extending portion fits loosely within recess portion 140. A- pivot pin 16 passes through the upper end of portion 15 and through housing 2 and mounts trigger link 15 for pivotal movement within the recess 14. A firing pin engaging finger 17 extends upwardly from the wide portion 15a, through the recess portion 14b and into the portion of opening 1 which is normally in front of the cup-shaped firing pin 3.

Finger 17 can cooperate, too, with a Rastoflnung (stop opening) arranged in firing pin 3 and facing finger :17, one flank of this opening being arranged with a parallel face to the front side 5 of the firing pin.

A handle 18 is pivoted to the end of trigger link portion 15b. Handle 18 includes a downwardly extending portion 18a which occupies the same plane as link portion 15b; portions 15a and 18a in general extend linearly downwardly from the housing 2 when the trigger link and the handle are in their normal operative positions. A handle portion 18b extends perpendicularly outward from each side of handle 18a and upstanding flanges are formed on the ends of portion 13b so as to straddle the trigger link portion 15b. An opening 32 for pivot pin 33 is formed in the flanges 18c. The lower front corner of portion 15b has a rounded surface '34 which permits forward pivoting movement of handle 18. The top surface 35, portion 18a, and the bottom surface 36 of trigger link portion 15a occupy horizontal planes, and come in engagement with each other in the operative position so that handle 18, when moved backward until surfaces 35 land 36 come into engagement with each other, thereafter moves the trigger link 15.

A pistol grip 19 is pivoted to the rear of housing 2 behind the trigger link for movement from an operating position in which it occupies the conventional position of a pistol handle toa folded position in which it extends parallel to the bottom of the housing. It is pivoted on a pin 27 which runs parallel to the pivot pin 16 for the trigger link. Pistol grip 19' is of generally channel-shaped cross section, as shown in FIG. 5. The depth of the channel is sufiicient to overlap the trigger lirrk handle 18 when both are in a folded position.

A detent element 22, which is shown in cross section in FIG. 2, is mounted in the housing 2 so as to hold the pistol grip in either its operative or its folded position. This detent element is mounted in a cylindrical hole 40 extending transversely into the housing 2, and is urged outwardly by a spring 21. A bolt 42 passes through an opening in the bottom of hole 40 and is threaded into the bottom of detent 22 so as to hold it in the hole. Detent 22 engages into an opening 23 in the side of pistol grip 19 to hold it in a folded position. When detent 22 is pushed in pistol grip 19 pivots into an operative position in which a stop portion 44 engages the back of the housing 2 to block movement in one direction and an edge portion 24 of the grip is engaged by the detent to prevent movement in the other direction.

To use the triggering device the pistol grip is first pivoted from the folded position shown in FIG. 1 to the operative position shown in FIG. 4. The handle 18 for the trigger link then falls downwardly until the handle stop portion 35 comes into engagement with the link stop portion 36. The flare pistol is then held in the hand and the flare is aimed as desired. Squeezing the handle and the trigger link with the index finger moves the firing pin 3 toward the back of the bore 1 while increasing the tension of the firing pin spring 4. Finally, the firing pin engaging finger 17 slides off the front face 5 of the firing pin and releases it. The firing pin 3 is driven in a forward direction by the spring 4, hits the percussion cap and the flare fires.

It will be noted that in the folded position the pistol grip 19 covers the trigger link and its handle 18 so that the possibility of inadvertent firing of the device is minimized. At this time the firing pin spring 4 opposes backward movement of the firing pin which would be necessary to move the pin engaging finger out of its blocking relation. Consequently, additional safety devices are not required.

During storage the spring 4 is not compressed to its full extent so that fatigue stresses on either the firing pin or the spring are eliminated even when the device is stored for a long time.

After firing the firing device the firing pin bears against the front side of the percussion cap support 9 facing it. If the firing device is to be used again, support 9 is first removed from the casing, then, after tensioning the firing pin spring 4, the firing pin 3 is pushed into the casing 2 by means of a separate plunger until finger 17 can be pivoted to be situated before the front side of firing pin 3. The plunger is then removed, the firing pin, under the tension of its spring, bearing against finger 17'. Finally, a new support 9 with a new percussion cap 7 and a new propelling charge 8 is screwed into the casing 2.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations.

We claim:

1. A triggering device for discharging signal flares and the like, comprising, in combination:

(a) a housing;

(b) means in the housing for holding a propelling charge for a flare or the like;

(0) firing pin means for igniting such propelling charge by striking it;

(d) means in the housing mounting the firing pin means for axial movement toward and away from such propelling charge;

(e) spring means for biasing the firing pin for movement toward the propelling charge;

(f) a trigger link having a firing pin engaging means mounted thereon;

(g) means mounting the trigger link for limited pivotal movement (i) from a first position in which the firing pin engaging means engages the firing pin and holds it against the force of the spring means, and prevents its movement toward the means for holding a propelling charge;

(ii) through a path of movement in which the firing pin engaging means moves the firing pin means back against the force of the spring means; and

(iii) to a second position in which the firing pin engaging means is moved out of the path of movement of the firing pin means, whereby the spring means may drive the firing pin means against such propelling charge to ignite it; and

(h) a handle for said trigger link, and pivot means mounting said handle on said trigger link for movement from an openative position to a folded position at which it lies approximately parallel to said housing.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein one end of said trigger link is pivoted to said housing at a point above said firing pin, said firing pin engagng means is located at an intermediate point on the trigger link and said trigger link includes a handle portion extending downwardly from the firing pin.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which the side of said firing pin means facing said means for holding (a propelling charge has a shape corresponding to said firing pin engaging means.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said handle includes a generally linear portion extending in a vertical plane passing through the axis of said firing pin, said portion having an arm extending perpendicular to the plane of said linear portion, said arm carrying a member forming an opening for said pivot means mounting the handle on the trigger link.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said firing pin is cup-shaped about the axis of the firing pin, the bottom of the cup facing said means for holding a propelling charge and including a tip extending from said bottom toward said holding means, and a compression spring mounted within said cup engaging the interior of said bottom at one end, and said housing at the other end.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means mounting the trigger link for limited movement include a stop positioned to block movement of the trigger link from said first position toward said means for holding the propelling charge.

7. A triggering device for discharging signal flares and the like, comprising, in combination:

(a) a housing;

(b) means in the housing for holding a propelling charge for a flare or the like;

(c) firing pin means for igniting such propelling charge by striking it;

(d) means in the housing mounting the firing pin means for axial movement toward and away from such propelling charge;

(e) spring means for biasing the firing pin for movement toward the propelling charge;

(f) a trigger link having a firing pin engaging means mounted thereon;

(g) means mounting the trigger link for limited pivotal movement (i) from a first position in which the firing pin engaging means engages the firing pin means and holds it against the force of the spring means, and prevents its movement toward the means for holding a propelling charge;

(ii) through a path of movement in which the firing pin engaging means moves the firing pin means back against the force of the spring means; and

(iii) to a second position in which the firing pin engaging means is moved out of the path of movement of the firing pin means whereby the spring means may drive the firing pin means against such propelling charge to ignite it;

(h) a handle extending from said trigger link, and a pistol grip connected to said housing and extending therefrom in the same direction as said handle; and

(i) means mounting said pistol grip for movement from an operatve position to a folded position, and means for releasably locking said pistol grip to said housing in either said operative or said folded position,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 220,785 10/ 1879 Barthel 4269 755,773 3/1904 Hoerr 4273 1,741,902 12/1929 Alden 42 1 G 2,055,020 9/1936 Wadsworth 421 I 3,270,455 9/1966 Smernoff et al 42-1 I 20 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner C. T. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 

